Car wash donates 14 TVs to Ecumenical Storehouse of Oak Ridge

Charles Washington Jr., owner of Details Professional Auto Care, has donated 14 television sets with 37-inch screens and remote controls to the Ecumenical Storehouse of Oak Ridge.

by Carolyn Krause

Charles Washington Jr., owner of Details Professional Auto Care, has donated 14 television sets with 37-inch screens and remote controls to the Ecumenical Storehouse of Oak Ridge.

The TVs, which Washington’s business purchased from a hotel that has closed, are analog sets. Each TV will get good reception with the addition of a $30 digital TV converter box, Washington said.

The Ecumenical Storehouse accepts, stores and distributes most household goods, except for food and clothes. Operated by volunteers from 11 churches on a rotating basis, the Storehouse provides furniture, appliances and other items to clients in Anderson County and four other counties. Clients include people whose homes have been destroyed by tornadoes, floods or fire.

Washington is a member and elder of First Presbyterian Church, one of the churches that operate the Ecumenical Storehouse. Volunteers from this church managed the Storehouse in November when the TVs were delivered there from Washington’s car-wash business by Tyrone Wells of Wells Concrete.

In explaining his decision to make the donation, Washington said, “Our church has a tradition of giving. We know how to be cheerful givers. We hope other people will follow our example.

“A tremendous joy can be gained by giving as well as receiving things like TVs. All our employees at our car wash, many of whom are struggling in their own lives, experienced tremendous joy when I told them our business is donating the TVs to the Ecumenical Storehouse.”

The Rev. Sharon Youngs, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, said, “This generous act tells us who Charles really is. His dynamic faith, compassion and care for his employees are truly inspiring and a great model for all business owners.”